Pet Urine Grass Repair
Pet urine can take its toll on your beautiful lawn. If your lawn is dotted with bare patches or brown spots where your beloved pooch (or your neighbor’s) has urinated, there are steps you can take to repair the damage and create a greener and healthier lawn. At Jonathan Green, lush, healthy, dark-green lawns are our specialty. We have been perfecting the art of green lawns since 1881, and have continued the tradition for five generations. We are also leaders in organics and have developed an environmentally sound approach to lawn care called the New American Lawn Plan. The Plan combines our Black Beauty® grass seed mixtures with organic and traditional soil amendments, lawn fertilizers and control products that feed your lawn AND your soil.
Why Dog Urine Damages Your Lawn
It can be frustrating to look outside and see burnt areas and unsightly brown or yellow spots of dead grass caused by your family dog or a neighborhood pet. The cause is simple – chemistry. Nitrogen in the soil is the most important element for plant development. It is absorbed from the soil through the plant’s root system and is responsible for the development of a dense, green lawn. Excessive levels of nitrogen, however, can cause the turfgrass to be less tolerant of environmental stresses like heat and drought, diminish the root system, result in thinner leaf tissue that quickly loses water, and/or cause burning of the leaf tissue and plant death. An excess of nitrogen can be caused by the over-application of nitrogen-rich fertilizer or… by a concentrated amount of nitrogen-rich dog urine. Salts and other compounds in the dog’s urine also contribute to lawn damage. Highly acidic or alkaline urine may alter the pH of the soil, adversely affecting the grass in the area of the yard where the dog goes.
What Can Be Done About It?
Damage caused by dog urine can be scratched up and seeded with Black Beauty® Patcher Lawn Bare Spot Repair, an all-in-one combination of Black Beauty® Ultra Grass Seed, starter fertilizer, and mulch.
Black Beauty Patcher quickly repairs bare spots and pet damaged areas. It provides up to 50% more grass seed coverage than other brands. Adding an application of Mag-I-Cal® or Mag-I-Cal® Plus will also rapidly raise the pH of the soil in these pet-damaged lawn spots, and this will help to nullify the effects of the excess nitrogen.
Mentioned Products
Dog owners also recommend pouring water on the area after your dog urinates to dilute the urine and lessen the effects of the nitrogen on your lawn. Daily watering may help minimize the brown and yellow spots. Also, because your dog is adding nitrogen to your lawn, consider switching to a low-nitrogen organic fertilizer in areas where your dog urinates. If pet urine is damaging your grass, Jonathan Green can help you repair the problem. Visit us online at JonathanGreen.com or visit your nearest independent garden center or hardware store for advice.